Two men from Brent have been arrested following an investigation into a series of demonstrations which descended into violence.

The investigation, named Ute, was launched after chaos broke out outside the Israeli Embassy in central London in January resulting in attacks on police officers and a number of shop windows being smashed.

Chief Superintendent Ian Thomas said: “Let me make it clear that those who corrupt and abuse the right to protest by using it as a guise to attack police and trash and loot shops cannot hide behind the crowds.

“What happened during these demonstrations in January and what our officers and those shop keepers were subjected to was not and cannot be described as lawful protest. A small minority of people set out that day not to air their views but to fight police and cause damage.”

A 23-year-old man was arrested this morning at an address in the NW9 area of suspicion of violent disorder and a 25-year-old man was arrested also in the NW9 area on suspicion of possessing class A drugs. So far 62 people have been arrested and are now on bail.